Purification and characterization of an arginine-specific carboxypeptidase from Mycoplasma salivarium

Highly active metallocarboxypeptidase from newly isolated Geobacillus strain SBS-4S: cloning and characterization

The carboxypeptidase gene from Geobacillus SBS-4S was cloned and sequenced. The sequence analysis displayed the gene consists of an open reading frame of 1503 nucleotides encoding a protein of 500 amino acids (CBP(SBS)). The amino acid sequence comparison revealed that CBP(SBS) exhibited a highest homology of 41.6% (identity) with carboxypeptidase Taq from Thermus aquaticus among the characterized proteases. CBP(SBS) contained an active site motif (265)HEXXH(269) which is conserved in family-M32 of carboxypeptidases. The gene was expressed with His-Tag utilizing Escherichia coli expression system and purified to apparent homogeneity. The purified CBP(SBS) showed highest activity at pH 7.5 and 70°C. The enzyme activity was metal ion dependent. Among metal ions highest activity was found in the presence of Co(2+). Thermostability studies of CBP(SBS) by circular dichroism spectroscopy demonstrated the melting temperature of the protein around 77°C. The enzyme exhibited K(m) and V(max) values of 14 mM and 10526 μmol min(-1) mg(-1) when carbobenzoxy-alanine-arginine was used as substrate. k(cat) and k(cat)/K(m) valves were 10175 s(-1) and 726 mM(-1) s(-1). To our knowledge this is the highest ever reported enzyme activity of a metallocarboxypeptidase and the first characterization of a metallocarboxypeptidase from genus Geobacillus.

Signaling pathways induced by lipoproteins derived from Mycoplasma salivarium and a synthetic lipopeptide (FSL-1) in normal human gingival fibroblasts

Lipoproteins derived from Mycoplasma salivarium and a synthetic lipopeptide (FSL-1) activate human gingival fibroblasts to induce IL-6 production and ICAM-1 expression. Human gingival fibroblasts were treated with lipoproteins or FSL-1 and then examined for the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), ERK1/2, p38, and SAPK/JNK, and transcription factors, AP-1 and NF-kappaB. Western blotting indicated that p38 and SAPK/JNK were activated in response to the stimulators, but the activation of ERK1/2 could not be discriminated because ERK1/2 was activated in the absence of stimulators. The p38 inhibitor SB 203580 also suppressed their IL-6 production-inducing activities, whereas the ERK1/2-activating MAPK kinase (MEK1) inhibitor PD 98059 did not suppress their activities. Moreover, they were capable of inducing the activation of AP-1 and NF-KB. NF-kappaB activation was also confirmed by the phosphorylation of IkappaB-alpha. On the basis of these results, it was concluded that lipoproteins of M. salivarium and FSL-1 are capable of activating the MAPKs p38 and SAPK/JNK and the transcriptional factors AP-1 and NF-kappaB in human gingival fibroblasts.

Purification and characterization of arginine carboxypeptidase produced by Porphyromonas gingivalis

Arginine carboxypeptidase was isolated from the cytoplasm of Porphyromonas gingivalis 381 and purified by DEAE-Sephacel column chromatography, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography on DEAE-5PW and TSK G2000SW(XL). Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme revealed the presence of three major bands at 42, 33, and 32 kDa with identical N-terminal sequences. By Western blotting analysis and immunoelectron microscopy, the arginine carboxypeptidase was found to be widely distributed in the cytoplasm and on the surface of the outer membrane. The open reading frame corresponding to the N-terminal amino acids of the arginine carboxypeptidase was detected by a search of the sequence of the P. gingivalis W83 genome. This sequence showed homology with mammalian carboxypeptidases (M, N, and E/H) and included a zinc-binding region signature, suggesting that the enzyme is a member of the zinc carboxypeptidase family. The purified enzyme was inhibited by EGTA, o-phenanthroline, DL-2-mercaptomethyl-3-guanidinoethylthiopropanoic acid, and some metal ions, such as Cu(2+), Zn(2+), and Cd(2+). On the other hand, Co(2+) activated the enzyme. The enzyme released arginine and/or lysine from biologically active peptides containing these amino acids at the C terminus but did not cleave substrates when proline was present at the penultimate position. These results indicate that the arginine carboxypeptidase produced by P. gingivalis is an exo type of metallocarboxypeptidase. This enzyme may function to release arginine in collaboration with an arginine aminopeptidase, e.g., Arg-gingipain, to obtain specific amino acids from host tissues during the growth of P. gingivalis.

Tuftsin: on the 30-year anniversary of Victor Najjar's discovery

After a short description of the results of Victor Najjar's research on tuftsin and of the discoveries done by other authors in the early stage of tuftsin investigation, the current state of work on tuftsin is presented, based mainly on the literature published in the years 1984-1997. The presentation follows this order: the occurrence of tuftsin and retro-tuftsin sequences in proteins, their synthesis and biology, the antigenic properties of tuftsin, its influence on phagocytic cells, and other biologic activities of tuftsin, including antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor and central effects, and the search for tuftsin superactive analogs.

The comparative metabolism of the mollicutes (Mycoplasmas): the utility for taxonomic classification and the relationship of putative gene annotation and phylogeny to enzymatic function in the smallest free-living cells

Mollicutes or mycoplasmas are a class of wall-less bacteria descended from low G + C% Gram-positive bacteria. Some are exceedingly small, about 0.2 micron in diameter, and are examples of the smallest free-living cells known. Their genomes are equally small; the smallest in Mycoplasma genitalium is sequenced and is 0.58 mb with 475 ORFs, compared with 4.639 mb and 4288 ORFs for Escherichia coli. Because of their size and apparently limited metabolic potential, Mollicutes are models for describing the minimal metabolism necessary to sustain independent life. Mollicutes have no cytochromes or the TCA cycle except for malate dehydrogenase activity. Some uniquely require cholesterol for growth, some require urea and some are anaerobic. They fix CO2 in anaplerotic or replenishing reactions. Some require pyrophosphate not ATP as an energy source for reactions, including the rate-limiting step of glycolysis: 6-phosphofructokinase. They scavenge for nucleic acid precursors and apparently do not synthesize pyrimidines or purines de novo. Some genera uniquely lack dUTPase activity and some species also lack uracil-DNA glycosylase. The absence of the latter two reactions that limit the incorporation of uracil or remove it from DNA may be related to the marked mutability of the Mollicutes and their tachytelic or rapid evolution. Approximately 150 cytoplasmic activities have been identified in these organisms, 225 to 250 are presumed to be present. About 100 of the core reactions are graphically linked in a metabolic map, including glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, arginine dihydrolase pathway, transamination, and purine, pyrimidine, and lipid metabolism. Reaction sequences or loci of particular importance are also described: phosphofructokinases, NADH oxidase, thioredoxin complex, deoxyribose-5-phosphate aldolase, and lactate, malate, and glutamate dehydrogenases. Enzymatic activities of the Mollicutes are grouped according to metabolic similarities that are taxonomically discriminating. The arrangements attempt to follow phylogenetic relationships. The relationships of putative gene assignments and enzymatic function in My. genitalium, My. pneumoniae, and My. capricolum subsp. capricolum are specially analyzed. The data are arranged in four tables. One associates gene annotations with congruent reports of the enzymatic activity in these same Mollicutes, and hence confirms the annotations. Another associates putative annotations with reports of the enzyme activity but from different Mollicutes. A third identifies the discrepancies represented by those enzymatic activities found in Mollicutes with sequenced genomes but without any similarly annotated ORF. This suggests that the gene sequence is significantly different from those already deposited in the databanks and putatively annotated with the same function. Another comparison lists those enzymatic activities that are both undetected in Mollicutes and not associated with any ORF. Evidence is presented supporting the theory that there are relatively small gene sequences that code for functional centers of multiple enzymatic activity. This property is seemingly advantageous for an organism with a small genome and perhaps under some coding restraint. The data suggest that a concept of "remnant" or "useless genes" or "useless enzymes" should be considered when examining the relationship of gene annotation and enzymatic function. It also suggests that genes in addition to representing what cells are doing or what they may do, may also identify what they once might have done and may never do again.

Effects of manganese on growth of Mycoplasma salivarium and Mycoplasma orale

The growth of Mycoplasma salivarium ATCC 23064 and Mycoplasma orale ATCC 15539 was inhibited by MnCl2. The growth-inhibitory effect was much more remarkable on M. orale than M. salivarium and was much more remarkable in medium supplemented with 10% (vol/vol) horse serum (HS) than 20% (vol/vol) HS. It was suggested that isolates of Mycoplasma from the oral cavity could be roughly identified as either M. salivarium and M. orale by examination of the growth (color changes) in PPLO broth supplemented with 10% (vol/vol) HS and 0.2 mM MnCl2.

Immunoglobulin G Fc fragment-binding proteins in Mycoplasma salivarium cells

Cell proteins of Mycoplasma salivarium were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, transferred to membranes, then examined for reactivity with human IgG molecules, the Fc fragment of human IgG, and concanavalin A (ConA). Multiple protein bands bound IgG, and most of them also bound ConA. One (corresponding to a molecular mass of 90 kDa) of the IgG- and ConA-binding bands intensely interacted with the Fc fragment of IgG. The reactivity of proteins eluted from the band with the Fc fragment, tested by dot-blotting and ELISA, was inhibited (90%) by pre-incubation with IgG and to a lesser extent (50%), with IgM. Thus, M. salivarium contained a cellular protein with a molecular mass of 90 kDa, that bound the Fc fragment of human IgG.

Proteolytic activities of Mycoplasma salivarium

Proteolytic activity was demonstrated in ATCC 23064 and oral isolates (more than 100 strains) of My coplasma salivarium and was suggested to be due to aminopeptidase, some other metalloproteinases, and serine proteinases. An aminopeptidase and a carboxypeptidase were purified from cell membranes of the organism and characterized. In amino acid specificities, the aminopeptidase was different from aminopeptidase B and leucine aminopeptidase, and the carboxypeptidase from carboxypeptidases B and N. These enzymes are considered to play a role in providing the organism with arginine as a main energy source, eventually facilitating the production of ammonia, and in protecting the organism and the other co-existing pathogens from defense mechanisms of the host by inactivating kallidin, bradykinin, tuftsin, and anaphylatoxins such as C3a and C5a.